MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Following on from the privatisation of the Forestry Commision,we dont want that,
what could we cut and not see any difference in the service provided.
The war in Afganistan and Iraq,pull out of the Falklands,
Funding the compensation for the riots in northern ireland and hand it back to the irish,
Sell off all the leisure and swiming pools,owned by the counncils, if the public want them pay for them at market rate,
Privatise Royal Mail,
sell off British Waterways, but insist on a percentage of the value of the land they then sell off or build on.
Privatise the royal family, let them pay for themselves, possibly convert Buckingham Palce to a hostel for all the homeless uk citizens in london.
[i]sell off British Waterways[/i]
But they are on about becoming a Trust. Wether it does happens I don't know.
pull out of the Falklands
Isn't there shit loads of oil around the Falklands?
Saving the GOVERNMENT AND COUNCILS MONEYPrivatise Royal Mail,
Royal Mail made £121 million profit last year (during a recession)
How much will it 'save the government' to privatise it ?
But RM failed to pay enough into their pension scheme and owe millions to refund it,
Doesn't sound like the sort of company anyone would want to buy then.
The governmnet will find some way of either taking on the pensions or just sell RM for a nominal amount, just as a way of getting rid of a nationalised company, and handing it over to the private sector,for them to make a profit, via cost cutting and staff reductions.
sounds like just what the country needs 😐 maybe we could just let the private sector cherry pick the profitable bits too?The governmnet will find some way of either taking on the pensions or just sell RM for a nominal amount, just as a way of getting rid of a nationalised company, and handing it over to the private sector,for them to make a profit, via cost cutting and staff reductions.
The governmnet will find some way of either taking on the pensions
OK, I repeat my question then.......how much will it 'save the government' to privatise it ?
BTW : "[i]handing it over to the private sector,for them to make a profit[/i]" I have already pointed out that it is making a profit right now. So why the need say that it will make a profit when privatised ?
jon1973 - Member
pull out of the Falklands
Isn't there shit loads of oil around the Falklands?
It has gone very quiet over the last few months about our next North Sea.
I take this to mean that there is no oil there or it will be just too expensive to get the stuff out.
Privatise Royal Mail,
I take it that means sell off the profitable urban areas leaving the taxpayer to fund the non-profitable rural areas?
...or it will be just too expensive to get the stuff out.
I think it's those oil reserves that are going to be viable in a few years time as the 'east to get stuff' runs dry. Will be interesting to see if anything ever comes of it though.
"Privatise the royal family, let them pay for themselves, possibly convert Buckingham Palce to a hostel for all the homeless uk citizens in london."......
Including the Civil list (which has been reduced at a far greater rate than any other govornment, sorry taxpayer, funded department) the royal family are a massive net contributor to the UK economy.....anyone who can add up would want the Royal family to stay firmly where they are so that the beneift they bring comes directly to the uk (I.E. YOU AND ME!!!) and not Royal Family Ltd.......
RM may be profitable now, But when its privatised with less staff, on paper it will look like the government has got rid of a high cost asset, and a private company will make a nice profit for its shareholders.
on paper it will look like the government has got rid of a high cost asset, and a private company will make a nice profit for its shareholders.
So it's all "smoke and mirrors" stuff then........fascinating.
Tax on capital letters.
RM may be profitable now, But when its privatised with less staff, on paper it will look like the government has got rid of a high cost asset, and a private company will make a nice profit for its shareholders.
And no affordable service for people in rural areas. Nice idea.
Its not their money, its mine!
You don't just cut the Royal Family off from the civil list. You nationalise their assets which are supposedly owned "privately". The tourists will still come (people still go and see Versailles, the Taj Mahal and the Kremlin even though those royal families were deposed/murdered some time ago), possibly in even greater numbers because they'd be able to gawp at more.
It has gone very quiet over the last few months about our next North Sea.I take this to mean that there is no oil there or it will be just too expensive to get the stuff out.
A parent is an oil and gas lawyer. Someone tried to recruit them to move out to Port Stanley in about 1985 because "a huge amount of oil was about to be found and it's going to get really big" but they said no. Since then, we've noticed that this meme has bubbled up every 5-8 years. I wouldn't be packing my boxes if I were an O&G lawyer today.
Sell off all the leisure and swiming pools,owned by the counncils, if the public want them pay for them at market rate,
Over on Swimmers World:
"Following on from the privatisation of the swimming pools,we dont want that,
what could we cut and not see any difference in the service provided.
...
Sell off all the mountain bike trails, owned by the Forestry Commission, if the public want them pay for them at market rate"
Pfft, we all know they should just scrap Trident's replacement, which would allow us to get rid of the budget deficit in a couple of years AND keep the swimming pools, running tracks and forests government owned, thus keeping everyone happy.
If we want the deterrent, which we "won't use" anyway, we should just pretend we still have it. No downside.
If we want the deterrent, which we "won't use" anyway, we should just pretend we still have it
Papier mache missiles! The submariners don't need to know they're fake. Just tell them they're lighter cos they're made out of unobtanium.
If you are anything other than trolling, come up with semi-sensible solutions rather than parochial / Socialist Worker headline / plain daft proposals.
If we want the deterrent, which we "won't use" anyway, we should just pretend we still have it. No downside.
How do you know they aren't already doing that?
(I don't think they are, I just wanted to point out the flaw in that)
If you are anything other than trolling, come up with semi-sensible solutions rather than parochial / Socialist Worker headline / plain daft proposals.
Yes, miss. Sorry, miss. Won't do anything to undermine the seriousness of the STW politics forum, miss.
Is it just me that finds it mildly amusing how much of our free Market utility companies are now owned by French and german state owned companies?
Work camps and forced labour for the unemployed.
MTG been done and closer to (mtb'ing) home than you would think.
[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glentress_Forest ]Read the History part[/url]
Stop landfill. Landfill tax costs a bomb, switch to MBT. Push the plants through the planning system and start saving some cash.
Stop publishing council "newspapers" which tell the public how wonderful the council are. There's no need.
Stop insisting that we build our own weapons systems. The average UK defence job costs the taxpayer an absolute fortune, and we often end up with naff / delayed kit. Just buy the kit the Americans are flogging.
Start properly working at getting people off drugs, and keeping them off drugs. Drug users cost society a fortune. Do this no matter what it takes, whether it's legalising the drugs or treating people until they can be useful members of society.
philjunior - Member
Pfft, we all know they should just scrap Trident's replacement, which would allow us to get rid of the budget deficit in a couple of years AND keep the swimming pools, running tracks and forests government owned, thus keeping everyone happy.
Methinks you haven't really got hold of the scale of the problem yet. Trident replacement cost will be c.£130Bn over its life. The total deficit is currently almost £1,000Bn.
druidh - Member
Methinks you haven't really got hold of the scale of the problem yet. Trident replacement cost will be c.£130Bn over its life. The total deficit is currently almost £1,000Bn.
tj - Member
Look into my eyes, not around they eyes, into the eyes... and you're under. There is no deficit. GB left us with 1000's of pounds each in the public coffers, if he was still in charge we'd all be getting new bikes for free. It's the evil "condem" government trying to sell everything off... And you're back in the room.
😉
😀
Withdraw all NHS in-patient services except palliative care from anyone over, say, 65 years old.
Re-weight whatever criteria it is that NICE uses to assess the cost-effectiveness of drugs so that, basically, if it's at all expensive it doesn't get used.
1920s healthcare, but you'd slash the budget.
As suggested by a GP friend of mine.
Cut paracetamol from the list of drugs available on prescription.
Is it just me that finds it mildly amusing how much of our free Market utility companies are now owned by French and german state owned companies?
Yes. I bet they are probably at laughing us because we still believe that privatisation is the answer.
Stop insisting that we build our own weapons systems. The average UK defence job costs the taxpayer an absolute fortune, and we often end up with naff / delayed kit. Just buy the kit the Americans are flogging.
Not a particularly bright idea that one. That's like the Argentinians not being able to make Exocet missles and having to buy them off the French, only for them to withhold their shipments and look you've just lost a war.
It's like us trying to buy a stealth plane off the yanks, only for them to withhold the programming codes preventing us from modifying the plane ourselves and then having to rely on our "good old Ally" to do the work for us.
Trident has certain political and economic benefits beyond the deterrent, which is why it will be kept.
Privatisation, close down industries that provide key skills and operation independence...I'm sure if you could bottle your souls and sell them off the shelf, some of you would.
You lot seem to be awfully quick to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to this deficit.
aracer - MemberSell off all the leisure and swiming pools,owned by the counncils, if the public want them pay for them at market rate,
Over on Swimmers World:
"Following on from the privatisation of the swimming pools,we dont want that,what could we cut and not see any difference in the service provided.
...
Sell off all the mountain bike trails, owned by the Forestry Commission, if the public want them pay for them at market rate"Posted 9 hours ago # Report-Post
LLandegla is privately owned, has had a lot of investment put into it,and has nice welsh natives.
Also a lot of FC charge to park and do a lot of things there like eat food at the visitor centres, there are also lots of free places to ride bikes if you dont want to pay.
Close down all alcohol and drug dependancy units run by the state, and get the lazy sods working, cutting grass, or sweeping the streets.
Cut paracetamol from the list of drugs available on prescription.
Did he have numbers? The wretched things are about 50p for 16 tablets. I can quite believe that there's something ridiculous going on where if they're supplied on prescription (to people who don't pay prescription charges presumably?) they're silly money.
You lot seem to be awfully quick to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to this deficit.
As is the government. 🙂
BD - you're right there. The problem is patients who come in asking for repeat prescriptions (no such thing) when they're either on benefits (so no charges) or for their kids (ditto). He did mention numbers though and it was a big number though not of the sort that itself would cut our defecit...
Eurofighter was built specifically as something that Europe would be able to look after. It's still got US bits in it.
Given what most UK defence projects cost, we could easily buy yank kit, pay them for all the spares and still be better off. Eurofighter is nigh on out of date, Merlin can't lift anything, and the SA80 was in service for years before we got a version made that worked well.
Development costs are a major part of the price of these things, so it makes sense to buy the kit from someone who's already spread those costs across the biggest defence budget in the world. The other option is to produce not quite as good kit, and then desperately flog it to India etc. to try and spread the sunk costs.
I can quite believe that there's something ridiculous going on where if they're supplied on prescription (to people who don't pay prescription charges presumably?) they're silly money.
Never mind the cost of the drugs, the cost of an appointment slot with a GP will be pretty high. I wouldn't be surprised if a 15 minute appointment cost north of £50 when looked at from an activity based costing perspective.
Cut paracetamol from the list of drugs available on prescription
Can't see how this saves money. Prescription cost (in England at least) is £7.20 (i think), cost of a packet of paracetamol about 5p. Looks like a money maker to me! 🙂 A bit like a drug I take that costs £1 or so but I have to pay £7.20 on prescription - my additional personal subsidy to the NHS.
Edit - others got there first - my, you lot have fast fingers.
SA80 is a good example - IIRC instead of designing/developping it, we could have bought US M16s and then paid all the UK people who'd have lost their jobs quite significant salaries to do something useful and still spent less than we did...
Book by someone I know who sites several similar examples:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/lions-donkeys-and-dinosaurs-by-lewis-page-522690.html
Rio - no one (or at least very few people) who pays prescription charges get paracetamol on prescription - it's people who don't pay prescription charges that create the cost.
Clubber - good point, I tend to forget that I seem to be the only person in the country who still pays for prescriptions.
druidh - MemberMethinks you haven't really got hold of the scale of the problem yet. Trident replacement cost will be c.£130Bn over its life. The total deficit is currently almost £1,000Bn.
Methinks you haven't got hold of the difference between the deficit (£150bn ish) and national debt (c.£950bn).
Eurofighter was built specifically as something that Europe would be able to look after. It's still got US bits in it.
Nothing critical. When Clinton was president, he lent heavily on Blair to buy the American next generation missile to go on the Eurofighter. It would have been easy to just buy it off them. Only it would have meant that when it came to selling the aircraft to other nations The US would have a say who we could sell it too as the weapons package would be US.
Instead we have chosen to develop Meteor instead.
Given what most UK defence projects cost, we could easily buy yank kit, pay them for all the spares and still be better off. Eurofighter is nigh on out of date, Merlin can't lift anything, and the SA80 was in service for years before we got a version made that worked well.
And lose our operational independence. Also, Eurofighter...out of date? What does make those highly modern US f-15, and F-16's then? You know the ones that flew in the 70's and the US are STILL selling to other countries? If you don't have an industry, you can't sell your product to anyone. I'd have thought you wouldn't have missed that capitalist principle.
SA80 is a classic example of trying to do things on the cheap, as for the Merlin not being able to lift anything...where'd you get that from? If you want to point the finger at something how about the latest lynx, that is a waste of money.
Development costs are a major part of the price of these things, so it makes sense to buy the kit from someone who's already spread those costs across the biggest defence budget in the world.
And not get what you want. The reason we chose to develop stuff with European countries is down to a couple of things: to develop an industry that creates jobs and to be EQUAL partners.
If you buy off the US you are merely a customer with little or no say in what you are getting. The US defence industry is geared towards selling its wares to the US military...any other sales would be a bonus. Of course if you want something extra, you have to pay for it and the US will still refuse to integrate certain items onto the hardware they sell you. Go and look at the F-16 deal with the UAE for and example.
Book by someone I know who sites several similar examples:
Lewis Page? Now I know that you don't know what you are talking about. Whenever his name is mentioned in military circles is to much merriment and p*ss taking.
Stop publishing council "newspapers" which tell the public how wonderful the council are. There's no need.
It won't save a lot of money but it will save spending on a complete waste.
The free local paper in my area contains important information for people, guides to what's on, stories of local interest and bits of local history. I'd say it performs a pretty good task. Not a waste of money at all.
The free local paper in my area contains important information for people, guides to what's on, stories of local interest and bits of local history. I'd say it performs a pretty good task. Not a waste of money at all.
you see the value, others see the cost. Unfortunately this country is full of accountants these days.
project - MemberClose down all alcohol and drug dependancy units run by the state, and get the lazy sods working, cutting grass, or sweeping the streets.
this is one of the "more complex than it looks"
So much crime is committed by junkies and drunks that it ends up for every £ spent on rehab £7 is saved in costs in the judicial system - so actually spending more on junkie rehab would save huge amounts of money
treating drug addiction as a public health issue not a criminal justice issue would save massive amounts of money
How about telling the junkies that they get free drugs for life if they wrestle a hungry lion to the ground?
you see the value,
...you pay for it then. Or go to the library, or the council website, or read the local paper, or read the local councillors' newsletters or pamphlets.
tron - MemberStop publishing council "newspapers" which tell the public how wonderful the council are. There's no need.
Yes - this. The amount of total tripe which comes through my letterbox is unbelievable.
Also, legalise all drugs straightaway and crime will nigh on disappear overnight.
EDIT: OK, perhaps not legalise, but certainly hand out smack and crack for free, on the state, in an organised fashion.
Get rid of all the people working as "recycling advisors" get rid of all the people working at recycling centres, and get rid of all the people driving recycling wagons.
Bin van pulls up at local prison, empties load, inmates repay their debt to society by carefully sorting the rubbish into recyclables and non!
Think of the reduction in landfill, 95000 people successfully kept busy sorting through rubbish, and you don't have to pay them a penny! Indeed, the value of all the recycled materials can go to offset the cost of keeping them there in the first place, we could even make the prison system profitable!